Sustainalitics_Maïra

 When we think about sustainability in food systems, we often focus on farmers or producers. However, after reading the different articles on food systems and food governance, I realized how much power retailers actually have in shaping what sustainability means for consumers. Supermarkets and large retail companies do not only sell products; they also influence production standards, consumer behavior, and even political discussions around food systems. Today, most major retailers define sustainability through concepts such as ethical sourcing, carbon reduction, traceability, recyclable packaging, and responsible supply chains. Labels such as “organic,” “fair trade,” or “sustainably sourced” have become common marketing tools. According to Fuchs and Kalfagianni, retailers use what they call “discursive power” to legitimize their role in food governance. In other words, they shape the narrative around sustainability and position themselves as key actors capable of solving environmen...

Living and working in Africa, I often see how agriculture sits at the intersection of development, climate change, livelihoods, and inequality. Reading about sustainability in agribusiness made me reflect on the gap that sometimes exists between the way sustainability is presented in international discussions and the realities experienced on the ground. Today, agribusinesses increasingly communicate around concepts such as climate-smart agriculture, resilience, efficiency, and sustainable supply chains. On paper, these approaches make sense. Climate change is already affecting food production across Africa through droughts, floods, and rising temperatures. Improving agricultural productivity while reducing emissions seems necessary if we want to ensure food security for growing populations. Some of the ideas discussed by Campbell et al. on transforming food systems under SDG 13 clearly illustrate this urgency. At the same time, I think sustainability cannot only be reduced to technical...